Prepared
If there was one thing you could say about Dan, it was that he was prepared. Contingency was practically his middle name (his middle name was actually Thomas). No matter what he was doing, he’d have thought through pretty much everything that could go wrong and made appropriate preparations.
If it was raining, Dan had an umbrella. He kept some extra cash in his jacket in case he lost his wallet. Almost any minor to moderate mechanical failure of his car could be addressed on the spot with the selection of tools and kits he kept in the trunk. Needless to say, Dan was never late. He’s the guy who always gets the train before the one he really needs to get, and brings a paperback along for the ride just in case.
People had gotten used to Dan’s punctuality and tidiness and slightly detail-obsessed nature; most of his friends found it harmless. They even acknowledged that it was actually quite convenient on many occasions, such as when Jim had forgotten to bring his sunglasses on a trip to the beach (Dan always brought a spare pair in case his primary ones were damaged or lost). Dan the Plan, they called him with genuine affection.
For his part, Dan had to put little effort into being mindful of the myriad possible outcomes and variations of life, and preparing accordingly. To be honest, he didn’t have to put any effort in. The dog would always ask. If Dan was packing a picnic lunch, he’d hear the voice of his long-dead Labrador in his head: But what if there isn’t a place to put the trash? How would that affect things? And so Dan would pack an empty plastic bag. When making a shopping list before going to the supermarket, he’d hear it again: But what if no-one has change for the shopping carts? How would that affect things? And so he’d make a point of keeping a quarter in his pocket.
Today Dan is finishing up his packing before going to the airport. The guys are meeting him there and they’re all flying out to Hawaii for a week-long vacation. Dan is of course well prepared. But what if you can’t buy sun cream when you get there? How would that affect things? Extra bottle of sunblock. But what if you want to hire a car? How would that affect things? Driver’s license. And so on.
Dan had already picked up the phone and was in the processing of dialling the taxi company’s number when his dog spoke in his mind once again. But what if there are terrorists at the airport? How would that affect things? Dan had stopped weighing up these contingencies for himself long ago; the dog was clearly looking out for him, and he trusted its wise counsel. He put down the phone and went through to the utility room where he kept his handgun in a box behind the laundry basket. There was just enough room in his suitcase.
Be prepared, he thought. That was his motto. Be prepared.